The 5 stages of digital readiness for adult online students

Many adult learners rank low when it comes to digital readiness and desire to pursue online learning.

New research reveals that many adults suffer from a “digital readiness” gap that impacts their preparedness and comfort in using digital tools for online learning.

U.S. adults fall along a spectrum of digital readiness, ranging from those who are fairly prepared to those who are relatively hesitant, according to Digital Readiness Gaps, a new report from the Pew Research Center.

Adults who hesitate to embrace technology for their learning are below average on the measures of readiness. They may need help with new electronic gadgets or have difficulty determining whether online information is trustworthy.

Those whose profiles display a higher level of preparedness for using technology in their learning are collectively above average on measures of digital readiness.

The report explores the attitudes and behaviors that contribute to U.S. adult learners’ preparedness and comfort in using digital tools for learning and examines them in five areas: their confidence in using computers, their facility with getting new technology to work, their use of digital tools for learning, their ability to determine the trustworthiness of online information, and their familiarity with contemporary education technology terms.

(Next page: The 5 stages of digital readiness)

Laura Ascione

Laura Ascione is the Managing Editor, Content Services at eSchool Media. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland's prestigious Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
When she isn't wrangling her two children, Laura enjoys running, photography, home improvement, and rooting for the Terps.
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